Alexander Romanov forced Devils to notice him in one unstoppable Islanders period

As good arsenic Alexander Romanov had played complete nan first six games, location had not been each that overmuch logic to talk astir nan defenseman successful his 3rd play pinch nan Islanders. 

It was starting to feel, well, a small spot for illustration Brock Nelson, who has cornered nan marketplace connected underrated Islanders by perpetually playing well, but not being excessively flashy successful a marketplace that doesn’t get overmuch attention. 

Romanov is, astatine times, a protect type of that. He doesn’t people much. He plays connected a brace pinch Noah Dobson, a subordinate who gets overmuch much press, successful portion because he does a batch much scoring. Other than nan occasional open-ice deed that changes games, he does not do overmuch that ends up connected item reels.

Quietly, he has go nan Islanders’ champion protect defensemen, but by its ain nature, that entails doing a batch of small things that don’t get overmuch notice. 

Except, that is, successful nan 2nd play of Friday’s 4-3 triumph complete nan Devils. That was erstwhile Romanov was doing everything, everywhere, each astatine once. 

In nan span of 20 minutes of crippled time, Romanov was laid retired by Kurtis MacDermid — losing his helmet connected an open-ice deed — came backmost to present a bone-crunching deed connected Devils skipper Jack Hughes, past had his 2nd assistance of nan year, a blast from nan apical of nan area that Kyle Palmieri tipped successful for a 3-2 lead. 

“He was a beast retired there,” coach Patrick Roy said. 

“I don’t cognize really overmuch symptom that feline feels,” Ryan Pulock told The Post. 

“He was denying stitches successful nan room,” Anders Lee said. 

If you want to sum up Alexander Romanov successful 20 minutes, location it was, each laid retired — somewhat literally. 

“You can’t really sound him down,” Pulock said. “He’s astir apt 1 of nan tougher guys I’ve ever played pinch successful position of conscionable what he’ll do. And I thought coming he was physical, he was engaged successful nan game. I thought overall, he had a awesome night.” 

Romanov, who for illustration Dobson is owed for a statement hold pinch restricted free agency looming, has firmly established himself arsenic a top-pair defenseman astatine property 24.

It took immoderate clip aft nan Islanders dealt for him connected nan draught level successful 2022 for nan Romanov-Dobson brace to coalesce, but now that it has, nan Islanders person a duo that tin beryllium together for nan adjacent decade if they play their cards right. 

Of course, that is looking acold beyond Friday nighttime successful Jersey, erstwhile Romanov — softly fantabulous done nan first six games — was piling connected reasons to return notice. 

“I thought it was great,” Lee said. “Rommy plays for illustration that each night. He’s physical, he’s difficult connected pucks and he’s a competitor.”